Before the Grammy wins, the critical acclaim, and the slide-guitar mastery that became her signature, Bonnie Raitt was simply a young woman with a guitar and a deep passion for the blues. What began as a “hobby” would transform into a legendary career built on authenticity and dedication.
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Finding Her Path Through the Blues
While attending Radcliffe College in Cambridge in the late 1960s, Raitt’s life changed course when she met Dick Waterman, a blues promoter who worked with legends like Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, and Buddy Guy. Through Waterman, she gained unprecedented access to these towering figures and seized the opportunity to learn directly from the masters. Following her instincts rather than a calculated career plan, she took a semester off from school to travel, listen, and play with the musicians whose records had inspired her.
The Philadelphia Years
After Cambridge, Raitt immersed herself in Philadelphia’s vibrant folk and blues scene of the late 1960s. The city’s Philadelphia Folk Festival was at its peak, and venues like the 2nd Fret and the Main Point hosted both local talent and national icons. For a young blues guitarist, there were few better places to develop.
Raitt performed in these clubs, often alongside the very bluesmen she had come to admire. Philadelphia wasn’t just a backdrop—it was her proving ground, marking her transition from fan to performer.
Her ties to the city deepened in 1972 when she recorded a live acoustic set at Sigma Sound Studios. Backed by local musicians, the show was broadcast by WMMR, one of Philadelphia’s influential rock stations. Selections from the performance aired regularly, helping build a dedicated regional fan base that has followed her ever since.
Breaking Barriers with Slide Guitar
In a world dominated by male blues musicians, Raitt’s ability to play bottleneck slide guitar with confidence and soul made people take notice. While her gender may have drawn initial curiosity, it was her tone, timing, and touch that earned respect.
She acknowledged that playing “pretty good blues guitar for a girl” helped get her foot in the door—a phrase that speaks volumes about the low expectations she faced. Rather than conform to the industry’s ideas of marketable image or sound, she stayed true to what she loved: traditional blues, folk roots, and heartfelt storytelling.
That sincerity resonated, especially with seasoned blues musicians who took her seriously because she took the music seriously. She wasn’t borrowing the blues—she was living it.
Building a Career on Her Own Terms
In 1971, Warner Bros. released her self-titled debut album. Though it received strong reviews, commercial success didn’t come quickly. Raitt blended blues, folk, and roots rock in a way that wasn’t easy to categorize, and she didn’t have radio hits.
Warner Bros. didn’t pressure her to chase the charts. The label’s profits were coming from arena rock acts, giving artists like Raitt space to follow their own vision. Though she felt her time at the label could end at any moment, that same lack of pressure gave her rare creative freedom.
Throughout the 1970s and early ’80s, she built a career on the margins—touring steadily, recording consistently, and staying true to her musical instincts.
The Philadelphia Connection Endures
Raitt’s connection to Philadelphia extended far beyond her early years. She performed regularly in the region through the decades, including at the Temple Ambler Music Festival and the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
In 1981, she headlined her first show at the Mann Music Center. She returned the following year and performed there several more times in subsequent decades, including a memorable 1990 show following the success of “Nick of Time” and a 2016 appearance with the Richard Thompson Trio. Her 2022 concert at the Mann, alongside Lucinda Williams, marked her tenth time on that stage—evidence of her enduring bond with the city that helped launch her.
A Legacy of Authenticity
Bonnie Raitt’s journey didn’t follow a traditional arc. There were no instant hits, no industry fast track. Her career was built through years of learning, playing, and staying rooted in what mattered most: the music.
Her early detours—whether taking a semester off college or stepping onto small Philly stages—were the foundation for a career that would eventually include Grammy awards, multi-platinum albums, and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
It all started with a willingness to listen, the courage to step off the expected path, and an unwavering commitment to the blues that continues to define her artistry today.
